Vallentin J F Captain VC 1st South Staffordshire Regiment
CAPTAIN JOHN FRANKS VALLENTIN VC
1ST BATTALION SOUTH STAFFORDSHIRE REGIMENT
A man whose motto through life was “Thorough”, Captain John Franks Vallentin, of the first Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment won the VC at Villebeke on November 7th 1914, by the heroic deed which cost him his life.
the only son of the late Mr Grimble Vallentin and Mrs Grimble Vallentin of 33, Prince of Wales Mansions S.W. Captain Vallentin was born on May the 14th 1882. Educated at the great school which has been the Alma Mater of so many of our soldier heroes, Wellington College, he passed into the army through the Militia, with which he was embodied for nearly three years, and joined the Royal Garrison Regiment on July 29th 1903, serving with it until June 7th 1905, when he became Second Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. He was promoted Lieutenant two years later and gained company on June 12 1909. From 1901 to 1902 he served with the Militia in the Boer war taking part in the operations in Orange River Colony from April to December 1901, and in the operations in the Transvaal from that time until May 1902. The future VC then greatly distinguished himself, and was awarded the Queen’s Medal, with five clasps.
Captain J. F. Vallentin was the best polo player in his Regiment, captaining his team, and it was due to his energy and efforts that Pietermaritzburg, while his Regiment was stationed there, became a centre for polo in South Africa. He was a specialist in musketry, and, as Lieutenant-Colonel R. M. Ovens, C.M.G., the Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment, said of him, “a first-rate all-round man at his work.”
The manner in which this gallant Officer met his heroic death is eloquently described by Colonel Ovens, in the following letter :-
“Captain Vallentin’s splendid heroism, unfaltering courage and determination have been justly rewarded with the Victoria Cross, the highest and noblest reward to be won in His Majesty’s Army. To his family and to his Regiment it will ever be a source of intense gratification that this keen and able young Officer should have had his name recorded in England’s famous roll of heroes. We, his brother Officers, who knew him well, know that his heart’s desire was to do his best for his dear old Regiment, and in peace and war alike he worked his hardest and gave of his best for the service he was so devoted to and wrapped up in. His motto was ‘Thorough’ and his abilities were most marked.
He was a warm-hearted, generous-minded young Officer, for whom I felt the greatest regard and affection. He was wounded and in hospital at Ypres on November 6th last, and hearing the Regiment were making an attack that night, he came out of hospital and took command. He was again wounded whilst leading his men forward, but notwithstanding his two wounds he again advanced and was instantaneously killed by five or six shots. But, whilst regretting that he is lost to us in this world, we shall ever love to dwell upon the glorious fighting done by him at Ypres against the Prussian Guards, whereby he has earned immortal fame and added fresh honours to the South Staffordshire Regiment.
I feel certain that our brave and devoted Staffordshire soldiers who are so magnificently keeping up Staffordshire’s great name will feel strengthened and encouraged by Captain Vallentin’s noble example.”
Captain Vallentin’s grandfather, the late Colonel Finnis, 11th Bengal Native Infantry, was the first victim of the Indian Mutiny, being killed at Meerut, May 10th, 1857.
Source : The British Roll Of Honour Vol 1
Vallentin J F Captain VC 1st South Staffordshire Regiment
Vallentin J F Captain VC 1st South Staffordshire Regiment
VALLENTIN, JOHN FRANKS, V.C., Capt., 1st Battn. South Staffordshire Regt., only s. of the late Grimble Vallentin, of The Manor House, Walthamstow, by his wife, Lucy (33, Prince of Wales Mansions, S.W.), dau. of Col. John Finnis, 11th Bengal Native Infantry Regt. (killed at Meerut, 10 May, 1857, the first victim of the Mutiny); b. in London, 14 May, 1882; educ. Wellington College; served in the South African War, 1901-2, with the Sussex Militia, taking part in the operations in Orange River Colony, April to Dec. 1901, and in the Transvaal from that time until May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with five clasps); gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Royal Garrison Regt., 29 July, 1903; trans- ferred to 1st South Staffords, 7 June, 1905, and promoted Lieut. 7 Sept. 1907, and Capt. 12 June, 1909. He went to France, 5 Oct. 1914, and was wounded on 31 Oct. at Ypres, and taken to hospital, where he was detained. On 2 Nov., on hearing Major Loder Symonds had been killed, he insisted on coming out of hospital to take command of what was left of the regt., the Col. having been seriously wounded on 31 Oct. He was killed in action at Zillebeke, 7 Nov. following; unm.
The regt. on this occasion, with the remains of the Queen’s Regt.. captured six machine guns, and recaptured the trenches which had previously been lost by the French. The machine guns captured on this occasion were destroyed and buried. He was awarded the V.C. posthumously “for conspicuous bravery on 7 Nov., at Zillebeke, when leading the attack against the Prussian Guard under a very heavy fire, he was struck down, and on rising to continue the attack, was immediately killed. The capture of the enemy’s trenches which followed was in a good measure due to the confidence which the men had in their captain, arising from his many previous acts of great bravery and ability.” Lieut.-Col. Ovens, C.M. G., commanding 1st South Staffords, wrote: Capt. Vallentin’s splendid heroism and unfaltering courage and determination have been justly rewarded with the Victoria Cross. He was Captain of our Polo Club, and the best player in the regt. He was a specialist in musketry, and a first-rate all-round man. At manœuvres and in the field General Officers have commented on the excellence of his work. The Chief Engineer of the 7th Division told me Capt. Vallentin’s scheme of defence and his trenches were the best he had seen. He was wounded and in hospital at Ypres on 6 Nov, 1914, and hearing the regt. was making an attack that night, he came out of hospital and took command. He was again wounded whilst leading his men forward, and was instantly killed. His is a great loss to his splendid old regt., and is deeply regretted by all who knew him.”
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1